White Kunzea is a beautiful medium sized shrub with fine leaves and abundant white flowers in spring. Bees looove buzzing around the relatively small bundles of stamens--a magnificent site for your garden. White Kunzea is also called Tick Bush and you’ll never guess why. Native animals are known to relax beneath White Kunzea because it relieves them off ticks and parasites. 

White Kunzea is endemic to the wild from northern NSW down to Tasmania, near the coast.

The leaves, small and crowded (about 1 cm long) and narrow-linear in shape, are produced on short stalks. The seed capsules are distinctive, but remain on the plant only until the fruit matures. They are somewhat bowl-shaped, often with a rosy bloom. Capsules are divided into several compartments which open by radiating slits in the top to disperse their contents.

They’re perfect for screening, informal hedging and are a low maintenance species. They’re pest and disease resistant--but keep an eye out for the occasional webbing caterpillar. Simply pick the caterpillar off the plant, they don’t bite :)

Hardy and adaptable, White Kunzea is a good choice as a windbreaker. It has been used in Sand dune stabilization plantings. If you have it in your garden, your next friendly visitors will be Australian native insects and small birds as they love it.

White Kunzea is used to make essential oil which offers soothing relief for tired joints and muscles as well as dirty, flaking itchy skin. The essential oil has been said to treat eczema, skin rashes, muscular aches, arthritis, and rheumatism. The leaves of the white kunzea are used to add a strong flavour to teas or to cooking. Try with roast meat and vegetables for a palatable treat.